# How is joke formed? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438 "2021-03-22T15:21:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/21 "2021-03-22T18:26:51Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I’m sure this is a parody of some thread. Can someone help a guy out? [How is babby formed?](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/how-is-babby-formed) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/22 "2021-03-22T18:33:38Z")
Oh, I know that meme. I figured there was some troll here somewhere who was asking stupid questions about how does humor work and the OP here was riffing on that using the meme you posted. ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/23 "2021-03-22T18:39:19Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I’m sure this is a parody of some thread. Can someone help a guy out? > [@What's with the type of joke where you say the full brand name? Why is it funny?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-type-of-joke-where-you-say-the-full-brand-name-why-is-it-funny/938392/11): > > I think this goes back pretty far, even before modern product placement. I can’t nail it down but I’m pretty sure they would do this on the Carol Burnett show and in other sketch comedy way back when. It’s just funny to hear people use ad speak outside of the commercials. > [@Another "why is this funny" question - spelling one's name "Letter as in \[subsequent letters\]"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-why-is-this-funny-question-spelling-ones-name-letter-as-in-subsequent-letters/938395/10): > > I seem to recall that I once saw that very thing only without the three syllables requirement. I’ve been unable to find it for quite a while, but I’d love to see your version. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/24 "2021-03-22T18:45:26Z")
Ah, thanks. A joke is formed when you soap. Wait, no soap, radio. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/25 "2021-03-22T18:59:39Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Is AFV still on? Are the videos now all in portrait? Yes and yes. And AFV has imitators. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/26 "2021-03-22T19:09:30Z")
> [@naita](#): > > …explain to me, **a real human being** , how is humor formed? Can we get a cite for that bolded claim? And we’ll need to see more than just boxes with traffic signs… ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/27 "2021-03-22T19:20:29Z")
1. Humor is in the perfect timing of what you say and the circumstances in which you are saying it. 2. Never explain a joke because it is never funny when you do. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/28 "2021-03-22T19:38:03Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Can we get a cite for that bolded claim? > > And we’ll need to see more than just boxes with traffic signs… I can enter into [contracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract), [sue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit) and be sued, [own property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ownership), and so on. I can supply proof I have done so. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/29 "2021-03-22T19:44:05Z")
Thanks! Tell us about someone you sued and how it turned out! This is interesting. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/30 "2021-03-22T19:49:16Z")
[Joke about suing poster’s parental unit removed] I didn’t intend to imply I had done all of them. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/31 "2021-03-22T20:33:14Z")
Ah, humor. It is not logical. * * * “Strange, I would have tought humor was an aspect of intelligence.” “No, Humor is associtated with an interrupted defense mechanism.” “All the same-” “Speaker, no sapient being ever interrupts a defense mechanism!” ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/32 "2021-03-22T20:34:10Z")
😄 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/33 "2021-03-22T20:42:32Z")
Mark Twain allegedly said, “Humor is tragedy plus time.” Which begs the question of what you get if you add thyme to tragedy? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/34 "2021-03-22T20:50:16Z")
Salty soup. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/35 "2021-03-22T21:03:50Z")
[![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/lu8cGyf.png "salty soup") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/lu8cGyf) ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/36 "2021-03-22T21:55:48Z")
> [@naita](#): > > I can enter into [contracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract), [sue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit) and be sued, [own property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ownership), and so on. I can supply proof I have done so. Corporations are people, but they’re not human beings, and often aren’t run by human beings. Proof fail! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/37 "2021-03-22T23:13:07Z")
That reminds me of the story of the lady named Sue who hated being called Susan. She was insistent that she be called “Sue”. Then she went to Japan, and as usual she insisted on being called Sue, but try as she might everyone called her Susan. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/38 "2021-03-23T00:16:34Z")
This reminds me. Never stand next to Atamasama at a party. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/39 "2021-03-23T01:40:00Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Corporations are people, but they’re not human beings, and often aren’t run by human beings. Proof fail! I believe the traditional human male way to prove they are not a corporation is to transmit a genital rendering. I shall do this. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-joke-formed/938438/40 "2021-03-23T01:55:53Z")
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